Vehicle.



L. LEWKOWICZ.

VEHICLE.

APPLICATION man DEC-9.1913.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918,

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L. LEWKOWICZ.

VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.9.19I3.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

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VEHICLE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 9. 1913.

Patented Dec, 17, 1918.

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L. LEWKOWICZ.

VEHICLE.

APPLICATION men 0Ec.9.19xa.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

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LADIS LEWKOWIGZ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

VEHICLE.

Application filed December 9, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LADIS LEwKowIoz, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to improvements in collapsible vehicle structures, and has especial reference to the superstructure of an automobile.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates in end elevation one application of my invention in the form of an attachment opened out, thus converting the open type of machine into a complete inside driving car. Fig. 2 is a similar view, partly broken away, with the hood portion thrown back and collapsed. Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2 with the front part broken away. Fig. l is a vertical transverse section upon an enlarged scale illustrating the Window and door structure and showing in dotted outline parts of the same. Fig. 5 is a view looking from right to left at a structure such as shown in Fig. 4 with parts broken away. Fig. 6 is a transverse horizontal section, partly broken away, on the line 66 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail in vertical cross section illustrating the catch mechanism at the base of one of the uprights. Fig. 8 is a similar view to Fig. 7 showing the said catch mechanism in its position when said upright is secured to the body of the vehicle. Fig. 9 is a view looking downwardly upon the body portion adapted to receive one of the slidable windows. Fig. 10 is a cross section of the body portion of one of the uprights. Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical cross section of the hinged bearing of one of the rear hood sup ports hereinafter more fully described, and Fig. 12 is a view of the same in collapsed position. Fig. 13 is a detail in perspective on an enlarged scale showing one of the catches which is emploved at the base of one of the uprights, and Fig. 14 illustrates the blank of the same. Fig. 15 is a vertical cross section of one of the hood supports showing a resilient roller binder adapted to prevent the window from rattling. Fig. 16 illustrates the application of a suitable binding clamp for the hood supports when in their collapsed or knocked-down position.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 17, 1918.

Serial No. 805,562.

Fig. 17 illustrates the window frame opened out in full outline and in dotted outline in ts position to receive the window. Fig. 18 lllustrates a cross section of the same, and Fig. 19 the top portion of said frame.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it will be observed that the main body portion of the vehicle indicated by the reference charactor 20 may be provided with two doors 2l22 and is preferably cut away at the upper rear portion as indicated by the reference character 23. It will also be observed that preferably three uprights or hood supports such as 24 to 26 inclusive, and an additional hood support such as 27, are preferably employed as shown, the said uprights 2% and 25 being adapted to be snaooed into posltlon upon the top of the body portion as hereinafter described, the upright structure indicated by the reference character 28 representing the usual wind shield.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 11 and 12, it will be observed that I prefer to employ a block or base piece 29 secured to the body portion 20 to which I prefer to mount a suitable hinge support such as 30 carrying the vertical upright 26 to which is also hinged the support 27 as shown, the upright 26 being cut away as indicated at 31 so as to allow sufficient clearance and support as shown.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 7 and 8, it will be observed that the uprights such as 24 and 25 are provided at their base with suitable bearing portions and catch mechanism as shown in said figures, the spring catch such as 32 being suitably secured as indicated by the rivet 33 and being adapted to pass through the opening 34 in the top of the body portion when the same is in position as shown, thus engaging the ledge 35 and preventing the upright from being withdrawn until the button 36 is pressed inwardly. It will also be observed that the base of the upright is provided with a cavity, recessed portion, or slot, preferably extending along the width of the same, as indicated at 37 to receive the upwardly projecting portion of the angle 38, thus insuring secure interlocking means which are held in engagement by the catch 32 until the button 36 has been pressed inwardly and the upright lifted out. The upright may be constructed of sheet metal bent preferably as shown in Fig. 10 in which it will be observed that the end of the sheet begins as indicated at 89 and overlaps itself at at) as shown, and again at 11 and a2 shown terminating at 43 and being secured in any suitable manner.

1 1 indicates the hood or top of the vehicle and is preferably secured at the front to the top of the wind shield 28 in any suitable manner or as set forth in my co-pending application. Serial No. 7%1 935.

In collapsing the hood or top of my attachment, the hood is first unfastened from the top of the wind shield as stated in my said copending application and is then pushed back to the first upright 24, causing the brackets such as 45 which are preferably on the inside of the hood 14: to collapse downwardly. The base of the uprights such as 2& are then preferably unfastened from the body of the vehicle by pressing inwardly upon the buttons such as 36 and the whole is then drawn backwardly to the uprights such as 25, causing the brackets such as &6 to collapse as aforesaid. The same operation is then repeated with reference to the uprights such as 25 until the entire hood or top is collapsed back to the u night or support 26 hinged as aforesaid. The brackets such as 47 are then collapsed inwardly as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, thus allowing the entire top to drop downwardly upon the top of the rear portion of the vehicle indicated by the reference character 48, thus assuming the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the cut away portion 23 serving to allow the collapsed hood or top to sit neatly in position instead of projecting unduly above the body. lVhen in this position any suitable clamping or binding means such as that illustrated in Fig. 16 may be employed for retain' g the collapsed hood rigidly and securely closed. Said binding or clamping device comprises preferably the cover 19 hav= ing the hinged sections 50 and 51 and the separating hinged sections 52 and 53 which are adapted to pass between the supports as shown, the combination being preferably se curely held by any suitable means such as the wing nut 54: upon the bolt 55.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, it will be observed that the doors such as 21 and 22 of the vehicle preferably comprise the lower section indicated by the reference character 56 into which the window section such as 57 may slide. It will also be observed that the interior of the body portion 56 of the door is hollow as indicated at 58 and is provided with a ledge portion 59 having a suitable filler such as 60 preferably ofmetal against which the guide or slide such as 61 is adaptedto engage as shown. The window portion 62 it will be observed is also cut away as indicated at 63, thus providing accommodation for the slide or guide 61, the upper end of which is also ofiset as shown at 65, 66 being a suitable plate or other cover adapted to keep the slide 61 in position. 67 indicates a suitable filling or other rest upon which the offset of the slide 61 may rest or engage. To the inner side of the window or suitably attached to the same is preferably secured a suitable lifting strap such as indicated by the reference character 68 which preferably is provided at one end with a suitable enlargement which may be of resilient material such as indicated by the reference character 69. When the window is in the position shown in full outline in Fig. 4, this strap hangs inside the car in the usual manner, but when the window is dropped down into the door the enlarged portion 69 binds between the window and the interior of the door, thus securely holding the window from rattling or vibration. When the window is drawn up to close the vehicle, the offset 65 engages the metal filler 67 upon the window frame and follows the window until the lower portion 61 of the same engages the offset of the filler 60 within the casing, thus preventing the win dow from being pulled out of the door entirely, and when the window is projected at its uppermost position, it will be observed that the cut away portion 70 of the window engages the upwardly projecting portion 71 of the angle 72. The angle 72 and its up; wardly projecting portion 71 are practically the same as the angle 38 and its upwardly projecting portion forming the top of the body portion of the vehicle, thus providing a continuous ledge along the top of the body of the vehicle. It will also be observed that when the window is elevated as shown in Fig. 4 in full outline that the guide 61 serves to prevent the window from shifting leftwardly while the body of the window frame itself serves to prevent the window from shifting rightwardly against the angle72 and its projection 71, so that the window is securely retained upon the ledge and is further braced by the projecting portion 61 of the guide against the filler 60, and the projecting portion 65 of the guide against the window frame as shown. I

Referring now more particularly to the other windows of the vehicle such as 73, it will be observed by reference to Fig. 15 that within the uprights such as 24 or 25 be mounted a suitable bracket such as 74: carrying a resilient roller such as 7 5 adapted to bear against the frame 76 of the window when the same is in its upwardly hinged position so as to insure against any vibration or rattling of the window.

Referring now more particularly to the window frame it will be observed on reference to Figs. 17 to 19 inclusive that the frame may be made of folding sections. the sections 7? and 78 being adapted to fold upward as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 17 and having sides as indicated by the reference characters 79 and 80 in Fig. 18 between which may be secured a suitable end piece preferably of resilient material as indicated by the reference character 81 thus serving to absorb any shock or other. vibration upon the glass, the restricted portions 82 and 83 serving to retain the filler 81 and sheet of glass in position. The top of the window frame however is preferably formed substantially as shown in Fig. 19 wherein it will be observed that the outside edge indicated by the reference character 84 is extended laterally sufiicient to overlap the top of the side of the body portion, thus making the top of the sides of the body portion of the vehicle uniform and smooth when the superstructure or hood is pulled back out of position and thus covering all openings and projections from the interior of said sides of the body portion.

The catch mechanism 82 referred to more particularly with reference to Figs. 7 and 8 may be made of a sheet of metal as shown in blank in Fig. lat and is shown in perspective in Fig. 13, the tongue or end 84 being adapted to engage the port or opening 85 when formed as shown.

Of course it will be understood that the uprights such as 24, 25 and 26 indicate the uprights on one side of the vehicle only and that the same are duplicated on the other side. It will also be understood that the cross piece such as 86 have their seating or support in the tops of said uprights by being introduced within the same, it being understood that the said uprights are hollow being formed of sheet metal as shown in Fig. 10. It will also be readily understood that the entire top of the machine is continuously braced from the wind shield to the back of the machine by the vertically collapsible brackets which are disposed horizontally beneath the hood and the diagonally set bracket 47 which may be outside of the hood and which may be suitably anchored at the back of the body of the vehicle as indicated at 87.

Referring again now to the window as shown to better advantage in Fig. 4, it will be observed that the filler 60 is tapered at the lower extremity as indicated by the reference character 88 so that as the slide 61 is drawn upwardly through the interior of the door 56 the offset of the same rides upwardly against the face of the tapered portion 88 of the filler 60 until it assumes the position shown in full outline in said figure when it will be observed that the same is snugly held between the same and the opposite interior wall of the door, thus insuring a snug binding fit to prevent the possibility of any rattle or looseness.

Of course it will be understood that vari ous modifications may be made in the gen eral arrangement or structure of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

A vehicle of the class described comprising a movable top and supports therefor having longitudinal recesses in their bases, and a continuous longitudinal ridge upon the top of the body portion of said vehicle adapted to engage said recesses, and automatic locking means adapted to be actuated by the introduction of the base of said support into the top of said body portion.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LADIS LEWKOWICZ.

Witnesses:

Loursn Ennnnrn, THOMAS A. HILL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

